Art Class: Painting in the Five Senses

In this six-part class, students consider painting as an expression of the five senses and the mysterious concept of synesthetic experience. According to the Ancient Greeks, synesthesia means to sense together. This perspective informs each traditional multilevel painting class, with each week dedicated to each of the senses using various paint materials, culminating in a taste feast and observational and synesthesia-based still life panting on canvas. The class uses historical art examples as well as visits to the exhibition galleries for inspiration. Taught by artist and educator Pamela Bowers. Ages 15 and up. All supplies and equipment are provided. $350 / $280 for members. Priority registration for members only through Wednesday, June 18.  Join today! 

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 Weekly topics: 

• August 20: Sound and painting. Freeform gesture with water ink and Sumi ink based in sound bath experience; gallery walk through Sam Gilliam: Printmaker
• August 27: Vision, painting, and color. Basic color mixing, color harmony, Bauhaus references, how color processes in the brain, oil painting skill acquisition
• September 3: The body, tactility, and paint. Oil painting from fruit or fish or floral, identification with subject through both paint and body movement.
• September 10: Smell and painting. Memory, smell, Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past, color and smell association; painting from olfactory memory using acquired color skills 
• September 17: Synesthetic feast, a celebration of taste. Begin a larger still life feast painting
• September 24: Final. Finish still life and conclude discussion 

A Chicago native, Pamela Bowers has divided her time for the past 20 years between Columbia, South Carolina, the Umbrian hill town she calls her second home, and her worldwide travels. She has exhibited her work internationally at venues that include the Guilin Academy of Chinese Painting in China, the University of Fine Arts in Hungary, numerous venues in Italy, the University of Newcastle in Australia, and the Ecole Nationale in Morocco. Nationally she has exhibited at the Bowery Gallery, New York; Blue Mountain Gallery, New York; ARC and WMG galleries in Chicago; and many other university and museum venues including the South Carolina State Museum, the City Gallery at Waterfront Park In Charleston, the University of North Carolina Charlotte, and St. Mary's College of Notre Dame. Bowers recently opened Fernsong Studios, which focuses on wellness events, classes, and gallery exhibitions.